Liquid-elevating apparatus



Dec, 1s, 1945. J, c. REED 2,391,105

LIQUID- ELEVAT ING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l .lsseeed www Dec. 18, 1945. J. c. REED 2,391,105

'LI QUID- ELEVATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20,. 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jesse C196 ed WHW Patented Dec. 18, 1945 AuNlTlazD STATE sk PATENroFFlcE 2,391,105 LIQUID-ELEvArING ArPAnATUs Jesse o. aeednaytenoiiie Application'september 20, 1944.,"senal Nq. 555.0019

Col. 10s-vz).

7 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid-elevating apparatus, and more particularly to that type of apparatus in whichv an endless belt or `cable is trained over anupper pulley while the lower part of the belt or cable depends into and enters the body of liquid which isto be elevated, the lower runof thebelt or cable supporting a freely revolving counterweighted pulley Ywhich isV movable in vertical guides toA maintain the belt or pulley under desirable tension.

The object of the present yinvention is to provide improved means whereby the eflicieney lof such liquid-apparatus is structurally improved, simplified and the efficiency thereof increased over Vprior arrangements.

.For a further understanding of the invention,

lreference is'to be had to the following description and the, accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in side elevation, of liquid elevating apparatus formed in accordance .with-the present invention;

.Fig ..2 is a front elevational view thereof, the associated well being shown in vertical section; Fig. 3` is a detail vertical sectional view taken through theupper or liquid discharge end of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View ofthe apparatus with .the endlessY belt shown in horizontal section;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary verticalsectionalview taken through the upper or drivingpulley of the apparatus; l Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the lower pulley andthe Weighted tensioning means `for the elevatorbelt;

Fig. 'l isy a v front elevational view of the Alower ulley member and its associated Lweight strucure; Y

Fig. 8 is a similarvview disclosing the lower pulley member in another position of operation. Referring .by numerals to the accompanying drawings whichillustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, the numeral I0 4designates the bore of .a subterraneany well or shaft, containing inthe bottom thereof a ycolumn or body of liquid to be elevated.Y At the ground level around the bore or shaft, there is provided la frame structure, indicatedat. Il. This frame structure embodies a vertically disposed hollow pedestal I2 which supports atthe upper end thereofV a discharge head I3 having' a liquid outlet spout I4. The open top of thehead I3 is normally closed by a hinged lid or cover I5, which may be heldin its'positlon ofy yclosure by the threaded fastening means indicatedat I6.

l'Ihe side Walls of the head 'I3' are formed with bearings II for the rotatable reception of an yoperating shaft I8. In this instance,A the shaft I8, exteriorly of the head, is coupled, as at I9', with the nari'natfure .shaftl of an electric motor 20. It willbe understood, however, that any other suitable drive mechanism may be employedfor imparting rotation to the operating shaft I8. The motor v2Inf'1a'y be mounted'on a bed'2'l, which may be adjusted longitudinally of the frame structure II Lby means of the Ascrew devices shownat'2'2.

Fixed for'rota'ti'on on the shaft vvI8 and arranged within the head I3 is an operating pulley 213, the latter havingflanged sides "24 andthe outer peripheral surface of the pulley between thes'ides'24 4isprovi'led with shallow depressions or riflles 25. 'Passing over the pulley 25 is the uppe'rrun'of a flexible endless carrier 26, which preferably is in'the form of a belt of rubberized material, although the carrier may take the form of a series of cables. This belt is disposed vertically in the wellboreor shaft I0 and thelower 'run of thebel't, which 'is submerged inthe water -or other liquid contained in the bottom of the bore, is trainedA overa weighted pulley 21. The shaft' .28 ofthe pulley 21'is j'ournaled, in a clevis 29, the depending stem 30 of the clevis being pivotally connected as at '3l' with an equalizer 'bar 32. This canin turn, is provided'with a depending ear33perforated to receive va pintle 34 which 'ls carried bythe spaced apertured ears 350i a rocker member36. member is situatedin a recess 31' provided in the 'upper end of a carriertensioning weight structure 38, theopposite lon- 'gitudinalY ends of the rocker member being formed with aligned fulcruming studs 39 which are received iii-openings formed in the upper part yof thev weight structure.

The Weight structure consistsof a plurality of removably interfltting bars-,V40 by means of which thel total `weight of the creased orrdiminished bythe additional removal of bars to lgovern the tensioning f'orcesapplied to the'carrier 216 as may befound `necessary in practice. grooved in order that said structure may be received by spaced vertical guide rails 4I. The upper endsof lthese rails are secured to the `eolumn or pedestal I2, and the rails are spliced together as indicated at 42 so that they may be of suitable length convenient for handling, and yet extended as necessary tomeetA the requirements ofi-wells of different'depths.

To raiseand lower the-weight structure cables structure may be in The sides of the Weight, structure y'are pulley,

ends of the equalizer bar 32. These cables extend upwardly and have their upper ends wrapped around and secured to drum elements 44 carried by a rotatably journaled cross shaft 45, which is suitably supported in connection with the pedestal I2. The outer end of the shaft 45 may be provided with a hand crank i6 and the rotationcontrolling ratchet wheel and pawl 4l. By this arrangement, the operating positions of the weighted pulleyt in the bottom of the Wellmay be controlled and, also, the pulley may be raised to the top of the well for Iinspection or repair purposes thereof.

Usually, the pulley 2l is arranged above the weight structure 38, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.v

This is the preferred arrangement where there is a substantial height of liquid in the bottom ofA the well bore. If, however, the height of the liquid inhthe well bore should be comparatively low or shallow, the weight structure may be reversed as disclosed inFig. 8, in which the pulley 2l is located in a recess "48 provided in the lower member 49 of the weight structure. By this arrangement, shallow wells may be operated effectively.

As the belt 'or carrier is advanced in the direction indicated lby the arrows A in Fig. 3, water or other liquid is carried upwardly on the surfaces of the upwardly advancing run of the carrier and as the same travels around the pulley 2,3, the liquid is flung centrifugally from the surfaces of the belt and pulley and deposited on the inclined bottom wall vSill of the support I4. In such elevators, there has been a considerable back drain of the elevated liquid into the well, particularly the liquid carried by the under surface of the belt as the same passes around the upper pulley. By means of the depressions or rifliesA 25 of the upper the .water carried by the under side of the belt travels outwardly of the pulley toward its ilanged sides 24 and beyond the confines of the side edges'of the belt, so that as the pulley rotates, this previously trapped liquid is also discharged centrifugally from the upper pulley and deposited on the inclined discharge wall 50, with the result that there is but a negligible amount of loss in the volume'of liquid raised to the upper pulley.

The pedestal I2 carries an insert section 5| having opposite sides thereof recessed as at 52 to provide guides for slidable bearing blocks 53. These :blocks rotatably support the end shaft eX- tehsions of a roller 54, which lbears on the return or downwardly moving side of the carrier belt 26. If the well bore or shaft l is of considerable diameter, for example, in excess of 8 inches, the roller need not beemployed, but when the Well bore is of smaller diameter, the roller is used to move the ascendingl and descending runs of the belt closer together'in Vorder that they may be accommodated in wells of reduced diameter and yet to permit of a relatively enlarged standard size pulley at the top of the well, and where a pulley of relatively large diameter operated much more eliicient'ly and effectively than one of reduced diameter Y kThe bearing blocks 53 are engaged by means of screws 55 adjustable in threaded openings provided in the walls of the insert section I, the said screws being exteriorly accessible so lthat the operating positions of the roller 54 may be regulated with convenience.

The principal advantage of the apparatus here disclosed resides in the fact that the same can elevate an Aequal volume of water or other liquid with an operating motor of lower horse power rating than can be accomplished with conventional motor drivenv pumps. The apparatus is essentially simple and may be used for the elevation of many kinds of liquids having a wide viscosity range. Also, liquids which contain solids in suspension can =be readily handled as Well as those which contain chemicals injurious to most metal pumps, such as those encountered in many coal mines.

The apparatus is so constructed that there is very little or nothing to get out of order and adjustments can lbe readily made from. the top of the well. The. compound pivots provided at 3|, 34 and 36 prevent binding of the weight structure on its guide bars as well as permitting the lower pulley to assume its natural operating position under all conditions of operation. The construction of the upper pulley is such that substantially all liquid which reaches the plane of the upper pulley is discharged from both surfaces of the carrier belt and the upper pulley itself, minimizing losses heretofore encountered as a result of the dropping of the elevated liquid back into the well. Through the use of the shaft and its associated cables 43, adjustment in the operating positions of the lower pulley and its associated weight structure may be readily effected from the top of the well and., likewise, the weight structure and lower pulley Amay be elevated for inspection or removal from the well in a simple and convenient manner.

I claim: Y

1. Liquid-elevating apparatus of the character set forth comprising a casing having a liquid outlet, a drive pulley rotatably supported in said casing adjacent to said outlet, a rigid frame depending from said casing into the body of liquid to be elevated, a weight structure slidably carried by 4Q said frame, a windlass rotatably mounted on said casing, cable means connected with said windlass and from which said weight structure is suspended for` raising and lowering movement on said frame, a second pulley connected with said weight structure, an endless belt passing around said pulleys, and means for rotating said drive pulley.

2. Liquid-elevating apparatus of the character set forth comprising a' casing having a liquid outlet, a rigid frame depending from said casing into the body of liquid to be elevated, a weight structure slidably carried by said frame, a `Windlass rotatably mounted von said casing, Vcables trained around and connected to saidwindlass, an equalizerrbar joined with said cable means and pivotally connected with said'weight structure for turning movement about relatively perpendicular axes, a'drive pulley at the top of said frame, a second pulley connected with said weight structure, an endless liexible belt'passing around said pulleys, and means for rotating said drive pulley.

3. Liquid-elevating apparatus of the character set `forth comprising a casing having a liquid outlet, a drive pulley rotatably supported within said casing adjacent 'to said outlet, a rigid stationary frame depending from said 'casing into a body of liquid to be elevated, a weight structure composed of a plurality of interconnected bar elements slidably mounted in said frame for vertical vmovement relative thereto, a second pulley connected with said weight structure, an endlessflexible belt trained around said pulleys, andmeansforrotating said drive pulley. f

4. A liquid-elevating apparatus of the, character set forth comprising a casing having a liquid the `peripheral surfaces thereof formed withvv a multiplicity of liquid-conducting grooves, a rigid I let, a drive pulley rotatably supported in said casframe depending from said casing into the body j of liquid to be elevated, a weight structure slidably carriedby said frame, a second pulley connected with said Weight structure, endless exible means passing around said pulleys, and means for rotating said drive pulley.

5. A liquid-elevating apparatus of the character set forth comprising a casing having a liquid outlet, a drive pulley rotatably supported in said casing adjacent to said outlet, a rigid frame depending from said casing and adapted to have the lower end thereof submerged in a body of liquid to be elevated, a weight structure mounted for vertical sliding movement in said frame, a second pulley connected with said weight structure, an endless belt passing around said pulleys, and a horizontally adjustable guide member carried by said casing and engageable with one of the runs of said belt to vcontrol the spacing of the opposed belt runs.

6. Liquid-elevating apparatus of the character set forth comprising a casing having a liquid outing adjacent to said outlet, a rigid frame depending from said casing and adapted to have the lower end thereof submerged in a body of liquid to be elevated, a Weight structure carried by and movable vertically of said frame, a windlass rotatably mounted in said casing, a rocker member joined with said weight structure for turning movement about a substantially horizontal axis, an equalizer bar pivoted to said rocker member for turning movement about a horizontal axis arranged at right angles to the axis of pivotal movement of said rocker member, cable means connected with said Windlass and with said equalizer bar, a yoke pivotally connected with said equalizer bar, a second pulley carried by said yoke, an endless belt passing around said pulleys and maintained under tension by saidy weight structure, and means for rotating said drive pulley to impart movement to said belt.

7. Liquid-elevating apparatus` as defined in claim 6 and wherein the weight structure is composed of a plurality of yinterconnected bar members in which the outer ends of said bar members are grooved for guided sliding movement on said frame.

JESSE C. REED. 

